14.10.2007

Telehandler roll over

The driver of a telescopic handler, Brian Harvey Heastan, 42 died on Friday after he was crushed by the telehandler as it rolled down a roadside verge.

Heastan was driving the Gradall Telehandler between construction sites and appears to have gone too close to the soft shoulder of the road which gave away, causing the machine to roll down the verge into undergrowth.

It seems that Heastan was thrown clear of his open cab and was then pinned under the machine and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe that the accident occurred around half an hour before it was discovered.

Vertikal Comment

When safety specialists harp on about the wearing of a safety belt while driving a telehandler, many operators ‘switch off’ considering the advice to be over cautious and unnecessary. However as this accident clearly shows, it can be a life saver.

The Gradall was fitted with full roll over protection, but the operator needs to stay within the roll-over cage if he is to benefit.

It would seem that had Heastan been wearing a safety belt he might well be nursing bruises today rather than awaiting burial.